What are the Different Types (“Phases”) of Clinical Trials?
There are several different types of clinical trials: Phase I trials usually test a new type of cancer treatment and are only given to a small number of participants. The purpose of a Phase I trial is to learn how to administer a treatment safely. Researchers will closely monitor the participants side effects and adjust dosages if need be. Phase II trials attempt to determine patients responses to treatments. Typically 30 to 40 people participate in Phase II trials. In Phase II cancer treatment trials, participants are closely monitored to see if their cancerous tumors shrink during treatment. If a patient s tumor shrink, it is responsive to treatment. If at least one-fifth of the participants “respond” to treatment, the treatment is considered successful. Researchers of Phase II trials also monitor side effects. If enough patients respond to therapy, the trial moves to Phase III. Phase III trials enroll a large number of participants (sometimes thousands). Patients are usually divided
There are several different types of clinical trials: Phase I trials usually test a new type of cancer treatment and are only given to a small number of participants. The purpose of a Phase I trial is to learn how to administer a treatment safely. Researchers will closely monitor the participants’ side effects and adjust dosages if need be. Phase II trials attempt to determine patients’ responses to treatments. Typically 30 to 40 people participate in Phase II trials. In Phase II cancer treatment trials, participants are closely monitored to see if their cancerous tumors shrink during treatment. If a patient’s tumor shrink, it is responsive to treatment. If at least one-fifth of the participants “respond” to treatment, the treatment is considered successful. Researchers of Phase II trials also monitor side effects. If enough patients respond to therapy, the trial moves to Phase III. Phase III trials enroll a large number of participants (sometimes thousands). Patients are usually divid
